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Their stores are big and bright and somehow more "upscale" than Wal-Mart or Kmart. But behind that chipper-looking exterior lurks a company that can be downright mean-spirited when its customers run into even the slightest problem.

Target's spiteful returns and exchanges policy, in particular, is making it the target of some pretty heated rhetoric from its former customers.

A few of the more recent complaints ...

Billy of Panama City, FL September 7, 2009

I purchase an Olivea 47in HDTV from Target 8 months back. Syntax Brillian the company that makes the TV and claims to have a one year warranty would only repair the TV if I would ship the TV back to them (at my expense) in the original packing (to prevent damage). They set the stage by saying if it was damaged in shipping the repair facility would simply ship it back. I called Target and was told they only warranty the product for 3 months and they quite selling the Syntax Brillian brands because they had so much trouble with the product. I asked to speak to a suprevisor and after a 5 minute waite the first time, I was disconnected. I tried again and the next time I was immediately disconnected. I called a TV service repair shop to see what it would cost to have my TV repaired and when I told them the brand, the repair shop said they could not help me because they could not get parts for my TV and that because of that, they would not even come out to look at the TV.

Ingrid of charlotte, NC August 25, 2009

This is a complaint about a Chinese made product. BAKING cups made of simple paper, this one was Wilton, multi-colored. Smells awful. Rank odor. You don't know WHERE this paper has been, or WHAT it is made of. China is a third world nation.

I sincerely hope [they] pull it off [their] shelves. I'm returning it tomorrow and will explain. I cannot put food into this, food we will eat, so I'm inconvenienced. Please reconsider selling this product at Target, perhaps [they] can buy American.

Tommie of Galveston, TX August 22, 2009

I took a friend to the Galveston,TX Target store 8:30 pm on Fri. August 21, 2009. I went into the men's room. There are two stalls, one larger to accommodate the handicapped. I entered the smaller stall and notice it had toilet paper. However when I finished my business I realized there was really only a small amount of paper left on that role and none on the other role. Having used what little there was I proceeded to step out of the stall to see if there was paper in the other one. None on either of the rolls.

Fortunately there was no one in the restroom so I with my pants down around my knees proceeded to the paper towel dispenser used for drying hands. I got some of that paper and tried to adequately clean myself. Not enough and I was not going out again. I did not put that in the toilet which meant I had to carry it out of the stall and deposit it in the trash. I had several more errands to run and felt so dirty because I know I had not adequately cleaned myself. There is no excuser for not keeping the restroom stocked with toilet paper. Fortunately I am not handicapped. I hesitate to wonder how awful it might have been for some of lesser abilities. I feel dirty, disrected and humiliated.

Phil of Rochester NY, NY August 16, 2009

Purchased a Chair. When the box was opened the legs and hardware were missing. Called Target to request the missing items and was informed that they do not package the box and therefor are not responsible for the missing items. Target management suggested we call around to find a replacement. My response to Target, why should i have to do anything. I purchased it from your store...you find me a replacement. Manager informed me that they are getting a new shipment into the store on "Monday" but she could not confirm what was on the shipment (now that's awesome inventory management). I asked that they call me if the chair was included in the "Mystery Shipment" and i was advised that was not the policy of Target. I was informed that if i am unhappy i could return it...I will NEVER SHOP at Target again !

Debbie of Ossining, NY August 16, 2009

For the second time when I bought a product in the electronics department, I was talked into purchasing a "Targent Extended Service Plan". The first time, I did not ask any questions about it, so when Targent said that my broken item was not covered under the plan, I accepted it as my error.

The second time, I purchased a camera. I asked very specific questions before I purchased the plan. When the camera was broken, I took it back to Target. The employee looked at it...looked at my plan card...and said that of course this was covered by the pla. he even told me what was wrong with the camers. When I contacted Target, they told me immediately that the plan did not cover that type of damage....that I could "try" getting help from Fuji.

I AM FURIOUS!!!! I still would have purchased the camera from Target even if the original seller had told me that the plan did not cover breakage. But, I would not have purchaed the extra coverage. I am tired of being lied to so that I make an extra purchase. I have tried to find an address so that I can send copies of all my paperwork, but so far I am only given email access.

Diane of Jonesboro, GA August 6, 2009

I applied for a position at Target and when they called me in to interview me and processed me for drug/background check they gave me a position that I didn't want then told me that the position I applied for was unavailable and either I take the position they offered or nothing at all. I was upset but went ahead and took the drug/background check.

When I got home I checked and just like I thought; the job was still available on their site. I was called back in the following week and ready to work (with uniform colors I had purchased), only to be told that my background check and drug screen had not came back in. I called the drug screen examination office and was told that it was all cleared up and that I should receive a phone call from the Mgr. telling me I could start work....but, that never happened. Bottom line, I think Target is bogus to say the least.

It would have been courteous to recieve a phone call stating that they just didn't want to hire me instead of giving me the run around.

Doreen of Curwensville, PA August 5, 2009

I purchased a Uniden phone on Sunday August 2, 2009 at your Altoona store. When we hooked up the phone it already had messages on the answering machine and names and numbers in the phone book dating back to July 23, 2009. So, in other words I was sold a phone that I thought was new and it was used. There is problem with regeristing one of the units and to take it back is about an hour and a half drive. If [they] are going to put used items back on the shelf as new at least delete the information on them.

At that time I also bought a digital camera and though I have not used it yet I am hoping at least it is new. I can tell you now if I ever shop at a Target again I will be check to make sure that the product was not opened.

Kevin of cheyenne, WY August 3, 2009

I have a Target credit card, never been late on a payment, usually pay more then the amount due. Recently my interest rate junped to 22.99 % I have called twice on this and keep hearing the this amount is adjusted automatically. I have asked if someone could review this for a lower rate, they keep telling me that they are not reviewing at this time. I have not been to target since they raised this, it cost target most in lost profit then the 4% they have made on interest that I have paid. I hope people consider this before appling for treir card.

ronni of ambler, PA July 25, 2009

we bought a dual dvd player for our kids so that they could watch dvds in the car when we take long trips in the car. we bought the buyer protection plan from the target store so that if anything would go wrong with the item we could get it fixed or replaced. well ... something did go wrong with the item of course after the 90 days that we had to return it to the store so we contacted the buyer protection service and was told that they would send out some labels so that we could ship the item out to be fixed and if it could not be fixed they would send us a gift card to get a replacement dvd player. well that was a month ago.

i called them to see where the labels were and first i was told, that oops there was a glitch in the system and they never sent them, and then another person i spoke with said that they sent them i just never got them. some one is lying!!!! i contacted target at the customer service 800 number and got the runaround there as well. i was told that i would have to wait for the labels to be sent again and wait to see if the item could be repaired or not. i was willing to do this a month ago! now they are telling me i have to wait again???? this is not reasonable as we bought the dvd players for long trips that we take in the summer when school is out and by they time they get around to fixing the item or not summer will be over and i would not have been able to use the product which i purchased.

i paid for a service and expect my concern to have been handled in a reasonable amount of time. which it has not been. i asked what can be done about this and was told nothing. i said that there was always something they could do. i asked if they would contact the mananger at the store i purchased the item at and advise him to return the item for a new one and that the store just return the item as broken and get a credit for it. i was told they could not do this.

i know they can since 7 years ago i worked for this company and it was done all the time!!!! why could they not make an acception? the customer service that i recived in the last couple of days trying to get this resloved has been appalling. i have written a letter that i will send "snail" mail to the president of the company. i do not know how much good that will do, but i know that i will never buy another thing from target and i will be telling lots of people i know about this...

Kari of Carlisle, IA July 21, 2009

in 2006, my parent's hired a debt relief service to help them settle their Credit Card debt. Target agreed upon a settlement and this settlement was paid in full within 3 months. Now - 3 years later, Target has turned the balance they were to write off over to 2 different collection agencies and refuse to discuss anything with us. My parent's are elderly and in ill health. Harrassment by the collection agencies and refusal of Target to call off the agencies or even discuss the situation.

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